Phillipsburg Mayor Gloria Decker has survived a recount of her three-vote Republican primary victory over Sal Cassar , picking up five more votes in the process.

Decker will face Democrat Arthur Paini in the November general election.

Decker led the GOP mayoral primary June 4 by three votes, 314-311.

Cassar petitioned a judge for a recount 10 days later, saying there were errors in tabulating votes and other problems because voters were unfamiliar with a computer voting system that was being used for the first time throughout Warren County.

The system uses cards with incomplete arrows next to a candidate's name.

To cast a vote, voters fill in the line to complete the arrow next to the candidate's name. The card is then inserted into a computer, which reads the completed arrow, counts the votes and retains the cards.

A punch-card voting system had been used in the county the previous 17 years.

As a result of yesterday's recount, done in Belvidere, Decker not only gained five votes, but Cassar lost one.

"I was happy that I won and picked up extra votes," Decker said last night. "The voting system functioned well, and the error was human."

Cassar said the error came about when a poll worker repeatedly put a voting card into the computer because he thought it was not being counted.

"The vote happened to be for me," Cassar said. "The worker thought the computer was not tabulating the vote on the card because the card kept coming back out. So he kept inserting it.

"Despite all the talk about people not knowing how the system worked, about 99 percent of the voters followed instructions properly."

He said there was a problem with only two ballots where both candidates were selected, thus invalidating the ballot.

"The system was fair," Cassar continued. "There was not one ballot where there was an argument. I congratulated her after it was over."

Cassar said it cost him $500 to have all 17 districts in Phillipsburg recounted.

Both candidates said the process went faster than expected. It started about 10 a.m. and ended about 1:30 p.m. with a lunch break in between.

"At least now my mind is clear (with the recount)," Cassar said.

He did not say what his next step is, other than he will meet with his attorney to discuss it.

Cassar, who was sworn in last week for one of the three six-month council terms, could become a write-in candidate.

"When I see her platform, then I'll decide if I'll support her," he said about Decker.

Decker, in her second council term, was chosen mayor last week during a reorganization and swearing-in of new council members.

Under the current form of government the seven council members choose a mayor and deputy from among their ranks, but the seat of power is with the town manager.